Snake berries are common for many plants such as Actaea rubra, Clintonia borealis, Maianthemum dilatatum, Potentilla indica, etc.
In other words, it is a general name for any plant that produces berries, and their edibility is unknown. Unfortunately, at various places, different people call different plant fruit snake berries, and it becomes difficult to know which plants exactly are exactly snake berries.
They are found on different plants in different forms, and mostly they are not edible. Because some snake berries are poisonous, it is impossible to consume them.
But some of them are even edible and have been eaten several times in history. Consumption of poisonous berries can risk in humans. Even accidental eating of poison arrows is harmful, causing a severe health risk.
What Are Snake Berries Actually?
It refers to several species of Poisonous Berries that are found on various plants and are not edible generally.
They are highly poisonous and can cause death if consumed. Sometimes they are not highly poisonous and can make you sick just.
Some of them have medical properties and are used for medication. While other’s non-poisonous is used as food.
However, it is necessary to know the exact information before consuming them because it can cause damage as a result.
It does not refer to a special type of plant producing them. Rather they are multiple plant species that give their fruit.
When you randomly come across the snake berries in a forest, is it better not to consume them unless you know that the fruit is not poisonous.
It should not be confused with the strawberry plant due to its flesh or plant appearance.
Do Snake Berries Attract Snakes?
No, snake berries do not attract snakes. It is because snakes are carnivores and only depend on the meant for their food.
Any plant, whether it is snake berry or any other plant, is of no use for snakes because they are never going to consume them.
So if you are thinking about bringing a snake berries plant in your garden, you can do it easily because it will never bring any snake into your yard.
You can introduce them in your yard and enjoy the fruit even if it is not known for being poisonous.
How Can I Identify Snake Berries?
You can get amazed by the name of snake berries when it is not food for snakes even. Why it gets its name?
The reason is simple; first, it is highly poisonous and can cause life harm for the consumer if he does not know about the toxicity.
Secondly, it is because of the specific pattern of growth of the plant. All its twigs and branches spread on the ground, and it feels like a snake.
But it is not necessary that every plant species producing snake berries will look alike. It is because it has diversity in its growth pattern.
If you are wandering in the field and randomly found a snake Berry plant and do not know about its toxicity, then you can guess it from its appearance.
The more the plant color is bright, there are more chances of its toxicity and vice versa.
Common Snake Berries Plants
Following are some of the commonly known plants species producing snake berries.
Potentilla Indica
It is commonly known as snake strawberry, which means that it is false strawberry. These berries exactly look like the normal strawberries that we consume.
Even its plant leave are similar to the edible strawberry. This plant was originated in Asia, and its plant looks beautiful because of red berries, green leaves, and yellow flowers.
Luckily these strawberries are edible but do not have much taste. People can consume it like red berries but will not enjoy consuming it.
It has many medicinal uses, such as anti-inflammation, anti-fungus, antiseptic, anticoagulant, and cancer treatment.
The anticoagulant function is needed for thinning the blood and can cure can heart or muscle-related problems.
For consumption, it is cooked with rock sugar and then consumed. Its leaves, fruit are all edible, so it leaves minimal side effects.
Another way is to mash the fruit and apply the paste directly to the wound, such as snake bite or any other wound.
Solanum Dulcamara
This plant also produces snake berries, but these berries are not edible and highly poisonous. It has many common names such as snake berry, climbing nightshade, violet bloom, scarlet berry, and more.
This plant has many characteristics which are similar to the strawberry plant, such as it looks yummy and red.
But it should not be consumed because of the presence of a highly poisonous poison called solanine. It can cause nausea, vomiting, hallucinations, paralysis, even death in severe cases.
Even the insects which consume them die after eating. That’s why it keeps bugs away.
Actaea Rubra
It is commonly known as snake berry, red baneberry, and cohosh. It is a large plant with small white flowers, green leave, and its fruit is highly red in color.
It is highly poisonous and can’t be consumed. But it is harnessed for birds. Because of its presence in the shade, birds feed on them, and seeds get stuck with them for pollination.
Although it is highly poisonous, it will not cause death. It has an awful taste and can affect the nervous system in children. It also causes nausea, tiredness, and stomachache.
Clintonia Borealis
It is commonly known as snake berry, straw lily, corn lily, yellow bead lily, and many more.
Originally it is present in North America and mildly toxic. Its berries are small or blue. Sometimes they are white in color.
Although it is mildly toxic, if you will consume it in large quantity, then it can be highly poisonous or can cause sickness.
But you would not die after that. One of the plant parts, called a rhizome, is used for medicinal purposes. So it is better to stay away from it for the security of your life.
Maianthemum Dilatatum
It is commonly known as False Lily of the Valley. Mostly they are found on the Pacific coast of North America.
They live at an elevation of 2,600 feet. Its habitat is shady places or moist. These plants grow on the ground and leave spread horizontally.
Because of having an attractive appearance, it is highly popular among gardeners. These berries are not poisonous and are edible.
If you find it in your garden, you can enjoy the sweet smell and taste. It can easily invade, so you should be highly careful because it can damage other plants.
How Many Snake Berries Are There?
There are various snake berries plants known. These plants are indigenous to North America. Some of the commonly known berries plants are Potentilla Indica, Solanum Dulcamara, Actaea Rubra, Clintonia Borealis, Maianthemum dilatatum, etc.
Are Snake Berries Poisonous
Snake berries are named so because they are highly poisonous as snake poison, and if you consume them, it can grant you many health risks, including harming your life even.
But that’s not always true. Not all plant species are poisonous. Some of them are even edible, and people grow them in their gardens for consumption.
Their taste it as delicious as the strawberry plant, but still, it is consumable.
Some of the plant species are mildly poisonous and be consumed. If it is taken in a large quantity, then it can cause toxicity to give you many health issues. But still, it will not take your life.
Some of the species are at high poisonous for the birds even. Mostly the consumer birds die after eating. That’s why it keeps bugs away.
For medicinal use, it is looked at with rock salt and then drinks. All plant parts such as leaves, fruits, and twigs are not highly poisonous, so it is safe to consume them.
Another way is to make a paste of the fleshy fruits and directly apply this paste on the wounds etc.
If a toxic snake berry is taken, then it can cause nausea, vomiting, heart problem, nervous disorder, muscles problems, etc. It is better to avoid them if you randomly find them in the yard for the sake of your life.
Are Snake Berries Edible?
Mostly they are associated with toxicity, but it is amazing to know that some of the species are edible and are very popular among gardeners.
They are grown in the gardens and consumed enjoyed. But they are not as delicious as the strawberry plant.
The highly poisonous species are used for medical purposes such as it is anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, etc.
There Is No Relation Between Snakes And Snake Berries
No, there is no relation between snakes or snake berries. When you listen to the name of the plant, it comes to mind that these berries are consumed by the snakes. That’s why it is called a snake berry.
But that’s not true because snakes are carnivores, and they depend upon other animals for food.
Snake berries are only named so because it is highly poisonous as the poison of the snake. And if treatment is not taken on time, then it can cause death even.
Another reason is the growing pattern of the branches. Its branches are highly invasive and spread on the ground like snakes.
But it is not compulsory because there is diversity in various species. May a plant look like twigs of snake berries, but it does not.
FAQs
Following are some of the common questions related to snake berries.
Where Do Snake Berries Grow?
The false strawberry, snake berry, and Indian berry are native to eastern and southern Asia. It is a flowering plant and confused with the wild strawberry.
Mostly they are shade loving plants and grow in damp and moist places. Birds feed on such plants, and their seeds get stuck with their body for pollination.
Are Snake Berries Are Used For Medicine?
Although snake berries are highly poisonous, they can have much medicinal use.
It has many properties, such as it is anti-inflammation, anti-fungus, antiseptic, anticoagulant, and cancer treatment.
For consumption, you can cook different plants parts such as twigs, branches, leaves, fruits, etc., in water with added rock sugar.
Now it can be given to the patient to drink. Also, its fruits can be directly mashed. This paste is then applied to different wounds.
It has an anticoagulant function which helps in the thinning of the blood. It ultimately helps in curing heart disease and other muscular dis-functioning.
Should I Take Caution With Snake Berries
Instead of taking any risk, it is better that you should avoid the consumption of snake berries. It can be riskier when you do not know about the plant species.
However, some of the species are not poisonous and can be consumed.
Conclusion (Snake Berries)
Snake berries refer to any plant species producing berries. It should not be confused with the strawberry plant because of its toxicity.
It is highly poisonous that risks in humans and take your life even if not treated at a time. Some of the plant species are even edible, but their taste is not as delicious as strawberries.
Some species are mildly poisonous and can be consumed. But if you will consume it in large quantity, then the poison can be accumulated to cause harm.
Snake berries are not related to snakes. It only borrowed its name from a snake because of being highly poisonous, and its branches spread on the ground extensively.
As a result, it feels like a snake. The toxic property of the snake berries makes it highly favorable to be used as medicine.
It is used in the form of a paste, or even you can even cook its drink to be given to the patient directly.
It is highly popular among gardeners. Mostly it is indigenous to North America and consumed by the Native Americans. Its habitat is damp places, so it can be seen in shady places or where there is moisture.
It is also a deadly poison for the birds, and mostly they are found dead after consuming; that’s why it keeps bugs away.
You should also read our other articles such as “What is queen crab?“, “What time do amazon packages arrive?“, and “What does S mean on a Car?“, if you enjoyed this article.